AFC Bournemouth Captain Tommy Elphick scored big smiles at Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH) on 1 December when he surprised leukaemia patient Daniel Hall with a special visit.
Daniel was diagnosed with acute leukemia of the blood some weeks ago after being admitted to the hospital’s Emergency Department with suspected septicemia.
The 26-year-old dad of one has been a passionate fan of AFC Bournemouth since watching the team at his first live football match more than 12 years ago and even sports an AFC Bournemouth tattoo. His girlfriend Kirsty Manning secretly invited Captain Tommy Elphick to visit Daniel’s hospital bedside and lift his spirits.
Daniel said: “I couldn’t believe it – when the nurses said I had a visitor I thought it was the pharmacist but it was Tommy. I was speechless for at least 30 seconds and then I said ‘Tommy! What are you doing here?’
“Tommy was with me for more than half an hour and recognised me from matches, he knew I was a season ticket holder as well. Being diagnosed with leukaemia out of the blue was a real shock – I’d never even been ill before really and it does get me a bit down at times, but Tommy’s visit made me feel really special.
“No matter how old you are, football players can still be idols to you. I’m really grateful to the staff on Ward 11 for supporting the visit, I can’t fault them, they’ve been fantastic to me and my whole family.”
Kirsty said Daniel had been undergoing chemotherapy: “In the new year, he’ll be transferred to Southampton General Hospital to receive a bone marrow transplant, so I wanted to cheer him up.
“He’s such a big fan of AFC Bournemouth, so it was really lovely to see Tommy supporting him this time round. He brought a signed shirt and a goodie bag with him for Daniel too, it was great.”
